Subscribe

Month: July 2021

60,000th Combilift truck delivered to Austrailia

Posted on by David Priestman

The Irish manufacturer Combilift has marked a further milestone when its 60,000th unit came off the production lines at the company HQ in Monaghan and was shipped to the other side of the world. The customer taking delivery of this special forklift is Metroll, a leading Australian manufacturer and supplier of steel building products including roofing, cladding, rainwater, structural and fencing.

Metroll has branches across the country, and the new Combi-CB3000 will be a further addition to its fleet of 13 Combilifts that are operating throughout the Metroll Group, with another 10 already on order. These range from 3t multidirectional units to a highly customised 10t model.

Combilift number 60,000 will be working at the site in Toowoomba and has been fitted with features such as 4.9m triplex mast with a 3050mm spreader to safely and easily manage the long loads that are typically handled by Metroll.

Metroll Operations Manager Vic Josephs said: “Like most businesses, we are very busy and we’re also growing at a significant rate, so space has become a premium resource. With this unit we can utilise our space more efficiently whilst at the same time operating safely. Safety is of paramount importance. This forklift allows our machinery to get into tighter spaces and for us to space our racks more closely together to maximise factory floor space.”

Combilift CEO and Co-Founder Martin McVicar commented: “This is a great achievement for Combilift, particularly as almost every truck we manufacture is a one-off, designed for specific and individual requirements. There are very few other companies, if any, that can offer this level of customisation whilst manufacturing in such volume. The first half of this year has been by far the best in our 23-year history for the number of orders we have received – not just for Combi-CB models but across our complete product range.”

Chris Littlewood, Country Manager of Combilift Australia said: “The Combi-CB 3t model is the most popular unit in the Australian market and accounted for 50% of the machines we sold in the year ending March 2021. So we are particularly pleased that it is one of our customers in this country that has been able to receive this landmark machine.”

Following the successful collaboration with Metroll in Australia, Combilift now also supplies its trucks to the company’s Californian-based operations too. “We have often found that a recommendation from one country leads to sites elsewhere adopting the same material handling processes with our products,” said Martin McVicar. “So we’d like to congratulate Metroll on taking delivery of our 60,000th truck, and thank them for their continued support over the years.”

Click here to watch the video.

EFAFLEX high-speed doors help optimise workflow

Posted on by David Priestman

Facilitating fast and efficient movement of goods; minimising the risk of incidents; increasing workflow; automatic activation; creating a safe environment and protecting operatives around high- risk machinery… these are just some of the reasons EFAFLEX says it has become the partner of choice for customers operating within the processing or logistics sector.

How exactly can EFAFLEX help the processing & logistics industry? Take an aerial view of a warehouse or logistics facility. You might see loading bays where goods arrive and depart, production lines where produce is assembled or manufactured, and temperature or environmentally controlled areas where goods are stored in specific conditions. Add in machinery, operatives, and produce. This is an environment that is familiar to EFAFLEX.

At loading bays and docks where areas are exposed to the elements, fast-opening and -closing door speeds are essential. Internally between halls or different zones of production areas temperature control, or air purity may be your key consideration. Along conveyor lines, or around robotic or hazardous equipment, machine protection may be your concern.

Return to PPMA

EFAFLEX UK Limited returns to PPMA where three of its most popular high-speed doors used within the packing and processing sector will be in action. Darren Turrell, UK Managing Director, says: “Warehouse and logistics clients operate in an environment that continually expects shorter and shorter delivery lead times, while finding ways to improve and streamline processes, enhance operational performance and bottom line. It’s a fact that the transportation and storage industry have more incidents involving workplace vehicles than any other sector.£

EFAFLEX will be showcasing its high-speed spiral featuring its EFA-THERM insulating laths, the EFA-STT turbo, and the fabric roll-up option.

Turrell continues: “There is nothing quite like seeing our high-speed doors in action. PPMA gives us this opportunity to meet with customers and discuss their specific requirements. Each order is manufactured bespoke to the customer requirements. Our high-speed doors are a premium brand, but when you factor in the whole-life cost savings, such as radically reduced energy costs due to their operating speeds and insulation properties, they are a cost-effective option.

“60% of our orders are from customers who have made this calculation and chosen to replace old roller shutters or overhead sectional doors because of the many benefits that an EFAFLEX door will offer.

Consider too that incidents not only can cause injuries to people, but they can result in unwanted costly downtime, which can have an unexpected knock-on effect that ripples throughout the processing facility.

Key features of EFAFLEX processing & logistics solutions:

  • A complete range of doors to suit every aspect of the facility
  • Internal roll up doors or exterior spiral and folding models available
  • Machine Protection solutions to add safety in higher risk areas
  • A range of activation methods to suit your needs
  • Selection of colours and finishes

See the EFAFLEX range of interior and exterior doors at PPMA stand J62, from 28 -30 September, NEC, Birmingham.

 

Antwerp sees growth despite pandemic

Posted on by Keith McKinley

During the first six months of 2021, 120 million tonnes were transhipped through the Port of Antwerp, an increase of 5% compared with the same period last year, despite the impact of the ongoing pandemic. Transhipments with the UK and Ireland also show positive figures; the expanded shortsea connections in response to Brexit are proving effective.

Containers are the only cargo type that has continuously grown since 2014, up by 4.3% in the first half of the year compared to 2020, and by 3.9% compared to 2019 (in tonnes). Conventional breakbulk has grown by 41.2% compared to 2020 and equals the throughput of the first 6 months of 2019. The throughput of iron and steel, the main goods group in this segment, increased by 37.8% due to a peak in the supply of steel. RoRo also did very well in 2021 and increased by 22% compared to the first half of 2020.

Dry bulk transhipment increased by 7.5% but there are fluctuations because some products, such as fertilisers, are seasonal. Liquid bulk grew slightly by 1.2% compared to 2020 but decreased by 6.1% compared to 2019. In May, the volume of fuels was the highest since October last year, while the transhipment of chemicals increased by 8.9% compared to 2020. Demand for chemicals is booming globally due to the recovery in industrial production and is exceeding pre-pandemic levels.

Brexit: growth in declining market

With an annual cargo flow of around 15 million tonnes, the UK is the third-largest maritime trading partner for the Port of Antwerp. The start of Brexit at the beginning of this year therefore created major challenges due to increased administrative complexities and more controls, which resulted in congestion, longer transit times and higher costs. As a result, the flow of goods between the EU and the UK is decreasing. Despite these difficult conditions, however, the Port of Antwerp recorded growth in total throughput of 11.1% with the UK and 12.1% with Ireland in the first half of the year compared with the same period in 2020.

In preparation for Brexit, Port of Antwerp put all its efforts into further expanding short sea connections with the UK and Ireland in order to achieve the modal shift from ferry to container transport. Five years after the Brexit referendum, the port of Antwerp is now connected with 12 British and Irish ports. In fact, Irish importers and exporters are increasingly abandoning the land bridge over the UK and are instead opting for a direct maritime connection. This way, cargo remains within the European Union and British customs formalities and duties are bypassed. For example, Eucon, an Irish shipper, has expanded its shortsea sailings from Antwerp to Ireland with an additional ship, mainly between Antwerp and Dublin.

Step towards CO2 reduction

The Antwerp@C consortium is taking important steps forward in the transition to a sustainable, low-carbon port. The feasibility studies have been completed and the consortium is preparing to enter the design phase. The project, an initiative by Air Liquide, BASF, Borealis, ExxonMobil, INEOS, TotalEnergies, Fluxys and Port of Antwerp, has the potential to reduce CO2 emissions in the Port of Antwerp by half by 2030. It will do this by capturing CO2 and using it or storing it permanently.

Serge Amorgaste, Sales Manager at Eucon, said: “The strategic location of Antwerp and the reliability and flexibility of the network offered from and to Antwerp, ensure the right transit time to meet the growing demand of our customers. Multimodal transport is the right tool for this door-to-door concept.”

Jacques Vandermeiren, CEO Port of Antwerp: “We knew that Brexit would have major consequences for the transport of goods between Europe and the UK. By preparing ourselves well and focusing on short sea connections and LoLo cargo, we can convert the challenges into opportunities. The positive half-year figures for transhipment with the UK and Ireland confirm this. After Brexit, Antwerp wants more than ever to be the gateway between Europe and the UK and Ireland.”

Annick De Ridder, Port Alderman: “Despite the difficult circumstances in which we started 2021, we can show that the port is holding its own and is once again even recording growth in container handling. The economic urgency for extra container capacity is clearly demonstrated, more than ever. The figures are a confirmation of the resilience of our port and of the flexibility of all employees who ensure that everything keeps running.”

Logistics company ships 20,000,000 tea bags annually

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Liverpool-based warehouse and logistics company, Brunswick International, is bringing in more than 20,000,000 tea bags through the docks every year. It imports a 100-container shipment full of tea annually, before distributing the extraordinary number of tea bags inside to locations around the UK.

Brunswick deals with around 20,000 containers, making the Hunts Cross company one of the biggest import and export firms in the UK.

On average the UK  drinks more than 100 million cups of tea every single day, so to keep up with demand Brunswick International distributes the tea bags as part of its major shipping operation by allocating 100 containers exclusively to them every 12 months.

Brunswick International managing director Steve Crane said: “We deal with more than 20,000 containers every year and at any time 100 of these will contain boxes of tea. Each container contains 2,000 boxes of tea, holding 100 tea bags, amounting to 20 million tea bags being shipped by us.

“The tea bags are just one part of a major operation we run out of the dockyards in Liverpool and Salford. We have an excellent customs facility and clear shipments – whether it comes via air or sea – at every port and airport in the UK while our fleet of vehicles and huge 60,000 sq ft warehouse facilities simply mean our operation has been able to hugely grow since the Brexit vote.”

Brunswick International has operated in the shipping industry for more than two decades and has a stellar track record throughout its time operating from Liverpool Docks before the expansion to Salford.

It recently opened a 50,000 sq ft HQ and customs bond facility in Hunts Cross, following extra demand for its services post-Brexit. The new site, which also includes 15,000 sq ft of external storage, follows a surge in demand from growing numbers of domestic and international clients since the UK left the European Union.

IAG launches Madrid-Maldives cargo route

Posted on by Keith McKinley

IAG Cargo has launched a new direct service from Madrid, Spain to Male, capital of the Maldives, starting from July. The service will run three times per week from Madrid-Barajas.

The new service will strengthen IAG Cargo’s existing presence in South Asia, which already includes regular services into Bangalore, Mumbai and Delhi in India. IAG Cargo’s extensive global network will allow customers in the Maldives and nearby Sri Lanka seeking to transport essential goods, such as textiles and perishables, access to key markets in Europe, Latin America, United States and elsewhere. The new route will be operated by Iberia A330-200 and A330-300 wide-body aircraft.

Fernando Terol Armas, Director of Spanish Hub and Operations at IAG Cargo, said: “South Asia is an important market for IAG Cargo, and we are very excited to open this new service for our customers in both regions. This route will not only support Maldivian exporters get essential and time-sensitive perishable products to global markets, but also support Sri Lankan exporters using Male as a gateway to Europe and beyond.

“With our hub in Madrid one of the largest in Southern Europe, this connection opens up opportunities for further import and export growth from Europe and beyond into South Asia.”

Rob Wiemerink, Regional Commercial Manager for Asia Pacific and Middle East at IAG Cargo, said: “I am delighted to be able to provide our customers with a further route between South Asia and Europe. Male is an important trade link for Sri Lanka, where garments, automotive goods and perishables such as fish are among the principal exports.

“Exporters in the region will be able to benefit from our Constant Fresh product, ensuring produce arrives on supermarket shelves in peak condition. This will also be welcome news for exporters into the Maldives – in 2019, goods worth around US$2.89 billion were imported to the Maldives.”

Eligible customers seeking to use IAG Cargo’s services into Maldives will be able to benefit from IAG Cargo’s loyalty programmes.

Konecranes lift trucks upgraded

Posted on by David Priestman

Since 2019, Konecranes has regularly introduced a range of enhancements for safety and productivity in its Lifetime Advantage programme. Now, as part of this long-term commitment to improving the performance of existing lift trucks, Konecranes is introducing four more innovative ways to raise safety and productivity for its customers around the world.

All four upgrades are specific solutions that can be fitted to Konecranes lift trucks on customer sites. They are not service packages but are intended to improve equipment performance with the latest available technology.

“Safety and productivity are among the two most important priorities for our customers,” says Johan Kårhammer, Global Spare Parts Operations Manager at Konecranes Lift Trucks. “So, in this latest release, they can choose any or all of two safety and two productivity packages that can be installed on one truck, all trucks at one site, or even across a global fleet.”

Of the two new safety improvements, Over Head Guard (pictured) is a retrofit for empty container handlers that will protect the operator from a falling object using a safety cage mounted around the cabin. Thankfully, falling objects are quite rare in container yards, but empty containers can sometimes drop accidentally due to the height of the mast. The retrofit is available only for Generation B and C empty container handlers.

Customers can also upgrade their lift truck safety by enhancing peripheral and forward visibility with a Roof LED Bar. This is a preassembled light fitting mounted on the truck’s roof to make operations brighter when the surrounding area is not fully illuminated, such as at night, in shadow, or indoors. Available at different illumination levels, it can be easily fitted to any type of forklift or container handler, and controlled from the operator’s dashboard inside the cabin. Better lighting also reduces driver fatigue, as they are not distracted by the need to avoid hard-to-see obstacles and can fully focus on delivering the load safely.

Productivity gets a boost with Hydraulic Pump Upgrade 2x105cc. On Konecranes Liftace reach stackers and TCE5 models with a suitable configuration, replacing the existing 75cc pump with a 105cc pump increases the operational speed of lifting, extending, retracting and manoeuvring actions. Faster movements mean faster work cycles and the result is more container stacking during each shift. Easy to install, the difference in work flow can be seen immediately.

The second productivity improvement is a static weighing system retrofit for Generation B and C reach stackers. Operators can weigh containers by lifting them for a few seconds, then touching a button to send the measured weight to a central database, such as the Terminal Operating System (TOS) or the yourKONECRANES customer portal, where it is linked to the container ID. This provides the information for an automated Verified Gross Mass (VGM) declaration with +/- 1% full scale accuracy and eliminates the need for a separate weighing procedure when loading containers for transport. Reducing the time and processes required for each container to pass through the container yard, this retrofit saves on operational costs and increases overall site productivity.

As in the past, the Konecranes global distributor network will again play a significant role in bringing the new Lifetime Advantage options to Konecranes customers around the world.

“With the popularity of our previous upgrades and retrofits, I’m pleased to see this new range available so soon,” says Patrik Lundbäck, Director and Head of Sales and Distribution at Konecranes Lift Trucks. “The Konecranes Lifetime Advantage is based on the needs of our customers in their daily activities. It’s meant to refine their operations and add a sharper edge to their container handling.”

Austrian logistics company serves Mars mission

Posted on by Keith McKinley

As the official logistics partner of the Austrian Space Forum (OeWF), Gebrüder Weiss is transporting the globally unique mission equipment as well as 16 international science experiments to the test site in Israel.

After the date had to be postponed last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, preparations for the transport from Austria to the Israeli Negev Desert are now officially underway. From 4th-31st October 2021, the OeWF and international research partners will carry out the simulated astronautical Mars mission, Amadee-20.

Young professionals at Gebrüder Weiss are taking an active role in organising the transport. Under supervision, four trainees will be taking over all logistic tasks, customs clearance and the transport of mission equipment. Under the hashtag #marsmonday, they will be regularly providing personal insights into this extraordinary project on social media.

From 4th-31st October, the OeWF will be leading the international Mars Analog Mission, Amadee-20. Experiments from Austria, Germany, France, Israel, Italy, Portugal, Sweden, UK and USA will be carried out by six specially trained OeWF analog astronauts. The mission equipment will fill two sea freight containers that Gebrüder Weiss will then transport from Innsbruck, Austria to the mission site in the Negev Desert in Israel – a site closely resembling the surface of Mars.

During the mission, the experts wear the Aouda space suit simulator, which was developed by OeWF. Currently, only five organisations worldwide are working on an equally complex space suit simulator. The analog astronauts (field crew) in Israel will be supported by the Mission Support Centre in Innsbruck, where several teams will be responsible for supporting the field crew with conducting scientific research, preparing the mission schedule, securing the collected data, and monitoring the health of the field crew.

Amadee-20 is the 13th Mars Analog Mission of the OeWF – find out more at: https://oewf.org/en/portfolio/amadee-20/

Industry-first ETA solution for airfreight introduced

Posted on by Keith McKinley

FourKites, a leading real-time supply chain visibility platform, has introduced its latest AI-powered innovation, Dynamic ETA for Air. For the first time, shippers, carriers and 3PLs can track 100% of air freight with highly accurate and automated estimated times of arrival (ETAs).

This unprecedented visibility into air freight means the supply chain can now have greater confidence in a mode of transport that is typically utilised for the most critical shipments, but that has been notoriously difficult to track. Real-time visibility into all air freight, with extremely accurate predictive ETAs, empowers supply chain partners to optimise downstream planning, reduce the time and expense of manual track-and-trace efforts, and increase customer satisfaction in the process.

“FourKites’ Dynamic ETA for Air has provided the visibility needed to help reduce turn times on urgent product requests for fulfilling critical customer orders, while also eliminating nearly 75% of shipment tracking email inquiries to our global logistics team,” said Kimberley Segel, Director of Global Transportation, Zebra Technologies.

Shipping via air has been estimated to cost 4-5 times that of road transport, and as much as 16 times that of ocean, but it is indispensable for shippers’ most critical and/or time-sensitive freight, including pharmaceuticals and medical supplies, perishable agricultural and seafood products, emergency shipments of spare parts or simply goods for which customers demand the fastest delivery. In addition, brands are increasingly turning to air cargo to expedite freight as inventory delays continue to plague supply chains.

To date, however, air freight has been plagued by a lack of real-time visibility, due to the complexity of the global air network, as well as multiple stopovers and transfers of goods in hub airports. As a result, ETAs for air shipments have only been available 40% of the time and could be off by as much as two days, creating myriad downstream logistical and customer service issues. By leveraging the latest and most advanced machine learning algorithms and knowledge graphs, FourKites’ Dynamic ETA for Air provides ETAs on 100% of air freight, and is accurate to within 9 hours.

This unprecedented predictive visibility means businesses can expect to spend far less time and money resolving delays, thereby enhancing their customer experience. In fact, FourKites customers have experienced two times higher customer satisfaction scores through their use of Dynamic ETA.

FourKites saw 97% growth in air loads tracked from 2020 to 2021. The platform now supports over 100 airlines and 17,000 airports, and has seen 40% growth quarter over quarter.

“When it comes to rapidly transporting critical goods, no other mode can compete with air,” said FourKites CEO and Founder Mathew Elenjickal. “Our announcement of Dynamic ETA for Air means that shippers, carriers and 3PLs can now enjoy greater ROI — not to mention peace of mind — from their significant investments in this critical mode of transport.”

D’Ieteren acquires 40% of TVH Parts

Posted on by David Priestman

Parts specialist TVH, a global player in the field of spare parts and accessories for lift trucks, industrial vehicles, construction and agricultural machinery, has found a partner in D’Ieteren Group.

In October 2020, it was announced that TVH Parts was looking for a strong minority shareholder who is aligned with both the long-term vision and the culture of TVH Parts. That partner was now found in D’Ieteren Group. The shares concerned are the 40% of shares that were held by the Vanhalst family. The remaining 60% of the shares remain in the hands of the Thermote family.

D’Ieteren Group is a listed company and already comprises 4 activities: D’Ieteren Automotive, Belron (Carglass), Moleskine and D’Ieteren Immo.

Like TVH Parts, D’Ieteren Group is a family business with a long, successful history and clear Belgian roots, for whom the development and well-being of the employees is a priority. The company firmly believes in the importance of sustainable business and long-term growth. In addition to these similarities, D’Ieteren Group originated from the automotive industry, which is of course related to the activities of TVH Parts.

Dominiek Valcke, CEO of TVH Parts, said: “I’m happy and honoured that TVH Parts can partner with D’Ieteren Group. In the last months and weeks, we enjoyed the constructive discussions and open dialogues with the management and founding families of the group. We truly believe that their values and their aspiration on seeking long-term growth are aligned with those of TVH Parts. Together we can continue to work successfully together on our mission to keep our customers and employees going and growing.”

Francis Deprez, CEO D’Ieteren Group, added: “I’m very proud to announce the acquisition of the shares of TVH Parts. TVH Parts is a global leader in the growing and resilient business of machinery spare parts, whose purpose and values perfectly match our own. As with all our activities, D’Ieteren Group is convinced to support TVH Parts in its long-term development.”

A statement from the Thermote family read: “We are very grateful for having partnered with the Vanhalst family for the last 50 years and we are proud of what we have built together. In D’Ieteren we have found a long-term partner with a strong family history and with whom we feel a cultural fit. We are looking forward for the next 50 years of sustainable growth together.”

Nicolas D’Ieteren, Chairman of the Board of Directors of D’Ieteren Group, concluded: ”I warmly applaud this new partnership between the Thermote and D’Ieteren families. This acquisition is a new milestone in the long history of our Group, which illustrates our ambition to create value, through supporting innovative organisations driving change in their sector. We look forward to working with the people that make TVH Parts so unique and to draw together the promising future of the aftermarket parts business.”

Completion of the transaction is expected in Q4/2021.

 

CargoBeamer opens Calais terminal

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Leipzig-based logistics service provider CargoBeamer has put its first full terminal into operation. With the opening, the company puts its patented and horizontal shifting technology for semi-trailers towards rail into service at the regular market for the first time. Four round-trips will be operated on the lane between Calais and Perpignan in southern France, with at least one more destination to join before the end of 2021.

With its location close to the port of Calais and the important Channel Tunnel towards the British Isles, the transhipment facility in intended to serve as an important cornerstone in the company’s international route network. A first domestic French lane to Perpignan close to the Spanish-French border CargoBeamer enables intermodal transport towards the Mediterranean Sea and Iberian Peninsula.

After a one-week starting phase with two weekly round-trips, the route will be operated with four round-trips per week permanently. Euro Cargo Rail (ECR), a French subsidiary of DB Cargo, serves as cooperation partner. Each train offers a total of 36 seats for trailers, which consist of 24 special CargoBeamer railcars and six usual double-pocket wagons. Besides serving the French corridor, the Calais terminal also aims to provide intermodal transport streams towards Central and Eastern Europe. For this reason, a new route between Calais and Domodossola in Northern Italy will be launched by the end of this year.

The terminal site in Calais allows CargoBeamer to handle six train pairs daily, which means six incoming and six departing trains per day. This results in a total of 432 semi-trailers for every day. A second expansion stage is scheduled for 2023 and will double the terminal’s capacity to a total of 12 daily train pairs.

The shifting process of an entire freight train with simultaneous loading and unloading takes about 20 minutes. During the 11-month construction period CargoBeamer was joined by French construction company Eiffage. Additionally, the project was backed financially by the EU with the Connecting Europe Facility, the France Republic and the region of Hauts-de-France.

“The opening of our first terminal is an important milestone and a real quantum leap for the development of our company,” explains Hans-Jürgen Weidemann, CEO and founder of CargoBeamer. “Here in Calais, we are going to put our technology into regular market use for the first time and will continue to strengthen the modal shift of transports towards sustainable solutions such as rail. We therefore want to thank all our partners, sponsors and investors for their trust put in us and the good cooperation.

“We view our Calais site as the starting point and an important cornerstone of a Europe-spanning network of terminals and routes, forming an increasing number of connections towards Southern, Central and Eastern Europe by rail. Meanwhile the location of Calais promises a lot of potential with its maritime connections and the Channel Tunnel towards Britain. We are going to expand CargoBeamer’s route network continuously in the upcoming years and thus shift more semi-trailers from congested roads onto environmentally-friendly rail.”

 

Subscribe

Get notified about New Episodes of our Podcast, New Magazine Issues and stay updated with our Weekly Newsletter.